Eight States Push for 3.3 Million EVs by 2025--Is That Realistic?

California and New York have long been the backdrop where electric vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles enter the market, and it seems like other states want to jump on the bandwagon and support the push for more zero-emission vehicles.At a conference at the California Air Resources Board in Sacramento, eight states announced a commitment to push for more zero-emission vehicles and help automakers with sales. The eight states--California, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Oregon, and Vermont--have now required 15 percent of all new vehicles sold to be zero-emission vehicles, including plug-in hybrids, fuel cell electric vehicles, and battery-electric vehicles, by 2025.Jerry Brown, Governor of California, said "From coast to coast, we're charging ahead to get millions of the world's cleanest vehicles on our roads."The agreement between the eight states is based off several steps to see this goal through. Although the agreement isn't binding, each state has decided to align building codes to make building charging stations easier, buy more zero-emissions vehicles (ZEV) for government use, and institute cash incentives and home electricity discounts as well as share standards for charging networks and roadway signage. We wonder if the kinds of numbers that those eight states want are within the realm of possibility.Even with all these goals in place, it remains up to the customer on the vehicle they end up purchasing. Some automakers have had great luck with their ZEV vehicles like Tesla Motors, while others, including Honda and Chrysler, have not met the 15-percent mandate. With the new efforts of the states to sell more of these vehicles, many automakers have welcomed the agreement.Robert Bienefeld, senior manager of environment and energy strategy at Honda, said in a recent statement that "Honda has been supportive of California's efforts to promote consumer adoption of ultra-low carbon transportation options in that state by improving infrastructure and offering vehicle incentives. The agreement announced today is an encouraging step forward by other states to expand on these same kinds of efforts."Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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